Dominic Brunt, who plays beloved vet Paddy Kirk on EMMERDALE, has paid a touching tribute to his co-star as they compete for the same soap award.
Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) of Emmerdale is having a bad time lately, especially since his love Chas Dingle (Luy Pargeter) is having an affair behind his back with Al Chapman (Michael Wildman). Paddy, who has had a string of failed relationships on the ITV soap, also had a failed marriage to salon owner Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley).
Paddy and Mandy have remained friends and even confide in each other on occasion since their divorce.
However, in a new interview, the soap stars have revealed what it’s like to work together.
The pair also talked about whether they felt competitive with each other after being nominated for the same Inside Soap Award.
Dominic and Lisa have both been nominated for the Best Comic Performance award at this year’s ceremony.
The pair will compete against Jimmi Harkishin and Maureen Lipman from Coronation Street, Brian Conley and Tameka Empson from EastEnders, and Chelsee Healey and Jessamy Stoddart from Hollyoaks.
However, it turns out that the pair is not at all competitive, and that they are actually rooting for each other to win.
“I’m telling everyone on social media to vote for Lisa because she’s just brilliant,” Dominic said of his co-star.
He went on to describe what it’s like to work with Lisa: “When I first joined in the 1990s, you could be as crazy as you wanted; it was definitely more outrageous. We were never told to tone things down.”
“Back then, it was more like a Carry-On movie,” Lisa commented, before adding, “Paddy bought Mandy a piglet, which we had in bed with us.”
“I genuinely want him to get it,” the Mandy Dingle star added. When I watch, I feel like a proud mother.”
Lisa appeared on Loose Women earlier this year, where she discussed her upcoming storyline.
She also hinted that her character’s romance with Paddy might be rekindled.